Thrift Store benefits from business sponsorships

KITTERY, Maine — Despite more competition in the area and the closure of the Memorial Bridge, revenue and donations have increased sharply at the Fair Tide Thrift Store in 2012.

Barbara McGaughey, Fair Tide's director of social entrepreneurship, said the key for the store, whose proceeds benefit the agency's transitional housing program, has been relationship building. "Talking with people, looking for common areas of interest, leveraging resources and contacts -- it's literally paying dividends," she said.

Implemented in April as a way to raise community awareness about homelessness and drive store revenue, McGaughey cites Fair Tide's Business Sponsorship Program as instrumental. "For one month, businesses can sponsor Fair Tide in any number of ways -- direct financial contributions or in-kind services," she said. "In return, we promote them at the store, through e-blasts, on our Facebook page. It works out well for everyone."

For August Business Sponsor Kathryn Garra, who owns About Face Studio Salon with Jan Cushing in Kittery, the partnership helped raise their visibility in the community. "It's been great," Garra said. "We met people, made new friends, and we helped out a wonderful agency in Fair Tide. I see this as a long-term relationship."

Mary Oplinger, executive director at Fair Tide, expressed gratitude at the support. "Without community support and involvement, we could not operate as an agency," she said. "Barbara has done a wonderful job of reaching out to people and creating a real sense they're part of a family."

September Business Sponsor Jayne Ballard, who owns Five O'Clock Fox with Janet Brooks, said she has already felt the impact of the partnership. "I recently had an online special through Limelight and sales were better than I expected," she said. "I think Fair Tide had a hand in that because they shared it with their friends┐I'm very grateful for their support."

Founded in 1998, Fair Tide is a prevention program that combines safe, affordable housing with comprehensive supportive services to keep people safe as they gain the necessary skills to obtain and maintain permanent housing. Proceeds from the Thrift Store, which is open from 10am to5pm and located at 15 State Road in Kittery, directly support the Fair Tide program. For more information about Fair Tide, visit www.fairtide.org, or call (207) 439-6376.